Hatred With Benefits

EVA.

There are five of them: Three guys and two ladies. I recognize one of them as Jaxon, one of Emerson's long time friends. How could he have made friends so soon?

"Will you keep staring at us, or will you move from that door?" The redhead by his side hisses and I scoff.

"I don't think we've met before. I'm not sure what Ford told you, but this is my fucking place and you don't get to speak to me that way. "I snap and there are loud whistles and laughs from the boys. The redhead looks around before meeting my eyes again, a frown pressed to her face. I have a feeling she doesn't fancy me too much, and judging by the way Emerson snickers next to her; the fucker must have said something.

"This is his place too, bitch. " She cusses and dramatic gasps follow her words.

I clench my hands into fists as I keep my eyes on her, drinking in her appearance. She's in a short skirt just like mine with a cropped white top. She has the mean girl vibes attached to her, but if this bitch thinks she has a hold over me in my own fucking house then she has something else coming to her.

"His place, not yours. Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do? You should know you're his guest here, not mine so do not cross the line, redhead or I'll put you in your fucking place." She parts her lips to speak, but no words follow through. Anger masks her expression as she pushes from her seat and tries to take a step forward, but Emerson grabs her wrist, giving her a slight head shake.

"Don't," he says and the girl meets my eyes again before pressing herself tighter to his side.

"You might want to head to your room, Carson. "Emerson says with a blank face and I cock my brows, folding my arms against my chest. "And who are you to tell me what to do?" Before he can speak, another beats him to it.

"Hey, Eva. I'm Jaxon. I don't think we've met just yet." Jaxon smiles at me, extending his hand towards me and I stare at it for a few seconds before taking it in mine.

"I've seen you around. "I say and his smile grows wider, "Sharp of you to notice me."

He keeps his hand in mine for longer than necessary before finally letting go and I move from the door.

"I think we should leave." The third guy says, looking around his circle and everyone nods except the girl who's been quiet since I arrived.

"We'll see you at the party, yeah?" Jaxon nods towards Emerson and he nods. They all move from their seats and head towards the door, but not without a glance to my side and a dirty look from the redhead. "Hey, "A voice says behind me and I angle my head to the sight of a pretty woman with brown eyes and short blonde hair.

"I'm Sage." She smiles, moving closer to me.

"I'm "I start, but she cuts me off. "Eva. I know."

"Seems like I'm pretty popular, huh. "I joke and she laughs; the sound echoing around the room.

"I want to apologize for Paige. I promise she isn't always like that." She speaks softly and I draw my brows in confusion. When she points behind her, I nod in realization. "Oh her. She doesn't seem to like me too much."

"That's because of Emerson." She chuckles. "She likes him, but he doesn't have much regard for her and you being his roommate is threatening her place, she thinks. She's afraid you'll get close to him, nothing more.

"1

"Then she's wrong, " Emerson and I being close? I don't see that happening in a thousand years. She hasn't been around for long if she doesn't know Emerson hates the sight of me just like I do to his. "We're far from close, trust me. "I assure Sage.

She raises her eyebrows, "He's your roommate. " Based on some circumstances.

"It's more complicated than you think. "I tell her and she nods. "When people say that, it's usually less complicated to the rest of the population.

The silence stretches between us at her words as I think meaning to her words.

"But you don't have to worry about that. She goes a little overboard sometimes, forgetting she doesn't mean much to the said guy as she likes to think she does and it was nice seeing someone put her in her place." She raises her shoulder and I hum, leaning against the couch. "I'm all in for that."

Sage laughs. "I like you.

"I can say the same thing about you. "I wink and she laughs again before taking a step back. She gives me a wave and turn around to walk towards the door then stops as she wraps her hand around the doorknob, turning back to meet my eyes.

"Will I see you at the party tonight?" She asks with lifted brows.

"The frat party?" I clarify and she nods.

"You will." I assure her and she smiles before jerking her head towards me. "Nice hair, by the way. "And she's out of the door.

A smile remains on my face as I stare at the door. Maybe not everyone who surrounds Emerson Ford is as bad as him.

"I don't appreciate you smiling at me, Carson. "His voice startles me out of my thoughts and I clench my jaw at the sight of him standing by the door with his lips turned in a half-smirk.

"Can you not bring people here without my permission?" I glare at him and he gives me a disgusted look as he says. "And I need your permission because you're my father?"

"Because I'm your fucking roommate!" I raise my voice in anger and he laughs, taking slow strides towards me. With each step he takes, my heart beats faster in my chest and that's not in a good way. It's never in a good way when it comes to Emerson Ford.

"This is because of Paige, isn't it?" He says when he's close enough for me to feel each breath he takes and notice the specks of gold that surrounds his brown eyes.

"Why do you hang out with people like that?" I lower my voice and he shrugs, "Because she's hot? And I need someone to fuck?"

"You're insane. "I shake my head and he smiles. He smiles more around me these days, it's almost so distracting.

"I could stop if you want." He offers when I attempt to walk away. He takes the final step that closes the space between us and my breathing accelerates at his body closeness.

"Stop what?" My voice is small, almost inaudible and there's something else about Emerson's expression that scares me.

"Hanging out with Paige. " He explains. He averts his gaze to my arm and I stand still as I watch him lift his hand to my shoulder. "But I'll need someone else to fill that space. "I don't need him to say anything else to understand what he means with those words.

My breathing is quick when Emerson meets my eyes again and I'm hyper-aware of his every touch. I part my lips to speak and he nods slowly, giving me a go-ahead. "Come on, Carson. Say it. I know you want to.

"How much do you want to fuck me?" It was meant to be a playful insult. A question I expected him to answer with a rude one of his, but not the words that leave his lips.

"As much as you know I hate you." He doesn't blink as he says those words and my eyes widens just barely. I swallow the lump that rises in my throat as Emerson lifts his hand from my shoulder to the side of my neck, his face inching closer to mine.

His lips graze against mine just barely and I'm almost tempted to take them in mine, giving in to the scorching desire that burns through me for Emerson Ford and forget the animosity between us once again as I did that night, but I know that can't happen again.

They say once is a mistake and twice is a decision and I would be stupid to willingly give into fucking him again.

"Shame, "I finally find my voice as I place my palms to his chest. I let myself feel his muscles through the thin shirt he has on for a few seconds before pushing him off me. He budges just slightly, a smirk crossing his face. "I told you, Ford. That was once in a lifetime opportunity."

"Maybe you aren't as dumb as I believed you to be," he drops his hands to the side and takes a willingly step back. "But we both know it's only a matter of time before you give in to that desire, Carson. ' "There's no desire." My annoyed voice says, denying the wetness that's gathered between my legs from having him so close... So warm. Just at the tip of my grasp.

"If I push my hand between your legs, I'll find your wetness awaiting me. There's no use denying it." He calls me out and I hate how much he seems so confident. I hate how much he seems to be right when it comes to my body, even if he doesn't know it... More like certain of it.

"How many times have you touched yourself to the thought of that night?" He manages to corner me again. "How many times have you tried to get the satisfaction and pleasure I gave you that night? And how many times have you failed?" The words leave his mouth so easily. Almost like he had caught me himself. Whatever went wrong with me from sleeping with the enemy must be worse than I reckoned for me to clench my legs at the thought of Emerson watching me touch myself.

"Cat got your tongue, Carson?" Emerson's mocking smile brings me out of my thoughts and it only widens when I snarl at him.

"Null. "I lie. "To have slept with you is so embarrassing I never thought about it. It only makes me want to puke. "I continue to lie, knowing damn well there's no silver of truth in those words.

"You're getting good at your game, Carson. I'll give you that, but you should know I know your body better than you think I do. "And he doesn't give me time to dwell in his words before walking away. Know my body better than I think he does? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?